Here’s a Photo of an Alma Thomas Painting in the White House

It’s a beautiful Wednesday afternoon here in New York City—about 70 degrees and partly cloudy—and it just feels like the right time to share this photo, which has Alma Thomas’s Resurrection (1966), a stunner of a painting, presiding over a Passover seder in the White House’s family dining room. (This photo was shot during Passover, and shared by the official White House photographer, Pete Souza. Thank you to Greg Allen for bringing it to our attention.)

Michelle Obama unveiled the painting, which was acquired by the George B. Hartzog, Jr. White House Acquisition Trust, back in February at the unveiling of the renovation of the family dining room. There are also two paintings from the 1960s by Josef Albers, a rug from 1950 by Anni Albers, and a 1978 Robert Rauschenberg hanging there. Pretty impressive lineup. (Here’s an installation shot.)

Alma Thomas, Untitled, ca. 1968.

COURTESY MICHAEL ROSENFELD GALLERY

Those hoping to see some works by Thomas who are without White House invites can head over to the Michael Rosenfeld Gallery in Chelsea, where a winning show of her paintings and works on paper, dating from 1958 to 1978, is on view through May 16. There’s actually an untitled work in the show from around 1968 that’s pretty similar to Resurrection.

Speaking of the White House and art, remember that time, way back in 2009, when Michelle Malkin went after the President for hanging an Ed Ruscha there? “Crikey,” she wrote. “Next, we’ll find out that Obama has one of those Magic 8 balls on his Oval Office desk.” Whew, that was pretty wild.